Citizenship as a Human Right was discussed at CIU

Drawing attention to the importance of citizenship and human rights, taking place as a speaker was Academic Staff Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arzu Alibaba.

During his opening speech, Department of Psychology Chair Prof. Dr. Biran Mertan gave information in relation to the events organized by the committee. Mertan went on to highlight that within the 16-Day World Activism activities being organized, which begun with the screening and analysis of a film in relation to the elimination of violence against women and girls, on the 25th November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the events continued until the 10th December International Human Rights Day.

Explaining that citizenships are important for both states and individuals, Alibaba went on to say, "A state requires this it in order to become a state, the individual however, wants to know from whom to seek protection and their rights from".

Adding that restrictions are not accepted by the states when it comes to granting citizenship and that citizenship rights lag behind other forms of rights, Alibaba continued, "In terms of conventions, there have been no regulations in any 2021 international documents stipulating that the right to citizenship is a human right".

Underlining that being in the state of having no citizenship is a serious problem and that today, there are more than 12 million stateless people who are unregistered, Alibaba went on to state, "If having a citizenship is considered as a human right, then being stateless is a violation of human rights”.

Pointing out that within international documentations, there are statements in relation to the prevention of statelessness, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alibaba stated that it is unclear as to which state will grant citizenship in the elimination this situation.

Expressing that in terms of citizenships, it is just as important for states not to lose them as well as gain them, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alibaba informed, "According to the European citizenship agreement, a state cannot make a person lose their citizenship if that loss is to make them stateless”.

Advising there are currently no effective remedies for the loss of citizenship or statelessness today, Alibaba also stated that having a citizenship as a human right cannot totally be secured.